Legend Chuck Daly Dies at 78

Incredibly sad news out of Florida this morning, as legendary coach Chuck Daly has died at age 78. Two months ago, word came that Daly, who won two championships with the Pistons and an Olympic gold medal with the original Dream Team before entering the Hall of Fame, was suffering from late-stage pancreatic cancer.

To show solidarity for Daly, beloved in the NBA coaching fraternity, coaches have been wearing "CD" pins throughout the playoffs. The coaches association also created the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in his honor. As cutthroat as the NBA can be -- especially for coaches, where there are only 30 openings and about 100 men who think they deserve one -- it's amazing how universally beloved and respected Daly has become.

Matt Steinmetz: Everywhere He Went, Daly a Winner

Deaths in Sports

Chuck Daly, May 9: Daly, who led the United States to basketball gold in 1992 and the Pistons to two world titles, passes away at 78. Click through to see recent deaths in the world of sports.

Duane Burleson, AP

Dom DiMaggio, May 8: DiMaggio, the seven-time All-Star and younger brother of Hall of Famer Joe, dies at the age of 92.

Kevin Grubb, May 6: The former driver, who was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR after refusing to take a drug test in 2006, was 31.

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Benjamin Flores, May 5: The boxer died after he was hospitalized from injuries suffered during his NABF title fight days earlier.

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Jack Kemp, May 2: The seven-time AFL All-Star and 1996 Republican vice presidential candidate led the Buffalo Bills to two straight league championships in the 1960s.

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Hal Perry, April 30: The former Dons starter, who won two NCAA titles at San Francisco in the 1950s, died after a long illness.

University of San Francisco

Ben Enoch, April 30: The promising golfer died after his car hit a trailer on the way to a tournament.

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Jack "Lucky" Lohrke, April 29: The former Giants and Phillies infielder died two days after having a stroke.

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Glen Gondrezick, April 27: The former UNLV star died from complications from a heart transplant last year.

Frank Gansz, April 27: The former Chiefs coach died of complications from a knee replacement surgery.

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